General

Chestnut-backed Chickadee: Small, energetic chickadee with chestnut-brown back, rump and flanks, and white breast and belly. Barlowi subspecies has gray flanks. Cap and throat are black; cheek patch is white. Wings and tail are dark. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Chestnut-backed Chickadee: Resident along coastal regions from southern Alaska to central California; also in limited western ranges of the Rocky Mountains in southern British Columbia, southern Alberta, western Montana and Idaho. Preferred habitats are Pacific rain forest and moist areas containing conifers.

Breeding and Nesting

Chestnut-backed Chickadee: Five to nine white eggs with sparse red brown marks are laid in a natural cavity or woodpecker hole. Often excavates a rotten stump and then builds nest of moss and hair inside. Incubation ranges from 11 to 14 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Chestnut-backed Chickadee: Diet includes seeds, spiders, caterpillars, and other insects.

Readily Eats

Suet, Nuts, Sunflower

Vocalization

Chestnut-backed Chickadee: Song is a steady "chip-chip-chip-chip." Call is a gruff and rapid "tseek-a-dee-dee."

Similar Species

Chestnut-backed Chickadee: Black-capped and Mountain chickadees lack bright chestnut-brown back, rump, and sides.